London Life

Tower Bridge by night

I moved from my lovely hometown Leeds to London nearly 12 months ago for a new job and an adventure. Today after work I aimlessly walked from work to Buckingham Palace and around St. James Park and suddenly thought how lucky I was to be in such a wonderful city and to have all these amazing things on the door step. It reminded me of when I was younger and went travelling, there's something really quite humbling and exciting about being a small fish in a BIG pond.  I really appreciated where I was and it inspired me to get writing about my London adventures and the experience I've had in the past year.

It's been a a complete whirlwind and my feet have not touched the ground. I have done so much and had some amazing highs but there's also been hard times and a couple of long lonely nights. I've lived in different cities before (Birmingham and Manchester but London's been a completely different kettle of fish). I've experienced more live music than ever before, met amazing people, been to film premieres, fashion shows,  eaten in the most amazing restaurants but then at times I have felt lonely and out of my depth.

Im really pleased I made the decision to come to London and here are my learnings from the past year that hopefully may help someone else who is making the move…...

I think that for anyone in the media/ music industry the experience and contacts you build in your career in London is invaluable, and the events you get to go to are incredible! I know London isn't for everyone, some people come down for a year and then take all their experience back home - but I would recommend giving it a go, even if it is for a short time.

The pace is like nothing else, I thought I was busy in Leeds and I pride myself on liking to be busy but this was insane - be prepared, I thought I was until I thought I was going to have a heart attack about a month in. It really is work hard and play hard, once you get used to it though you're fine - take lots of Vitamins!

Lower your expectations - I'm poor! some nights, too often, my meals have resembled those from my student days. The places you live in are 'great for London' but wouldn't be considered an option back home. Yeah you get paid more, but not double the amount more yet rent is double! On the flip side - yep you're skint but socially there are so many free and cool events to go to - especially if you work in the media or have a mate that does ;) so you end up in this weird phase of a champagne lifestyle with beer money!

Getting home at the end of the night is a mission! it takes precise planning. You also turn into Cinderalla at about 11:30 - there's absolutely no chance you can miss the tube.

In the first month I spent all my savings, I got carried away and thought I was on holiday. There are just too many restaurants and bars it's far too easy - that was a mistake and I certainly had to cut down on my lavish lunches! I also got ill - the underground is so germy and the air polluted compared to Yorkshire's clean air I caught every cold going! I'm fine now though plenty of Vitamins and your immune system soon toughens up. My hair and skin also went weird at first as the water is different and I couldn't drink the tab water. My hair and skin are now climatised and goes weird when I go home! I bought a water filter - problem solved.

I love the fact it's a 24 hour city - in fact I found myself grumbling on a recent trip home that the shop had dared to be shut at 10am - I hung my head in shame I promised not to become that person!

The tube takes your soul! Forget polite chat and offerings of seats. It's every man/ women for themselves and it gets vicious - and don't ever stand on the left hand side of the elevator.

You can get any type of food!! apart from Fish and Chips - London has rubbish fish and chips -but is the best place for Dim Sum.

You can wear ANYTHING and no one looks twice! London is the place to be experimental and any style goes.

There's so much to do as well as the millions of bars and restaurants there's markets, shows, attractions, museums, galleries, tours, music - in 12 months I've only just scratched the surface and I my London bucket list is getting longer by the day.

It's a very glam social lifestyle, you meet your mates in the week in central London for dinner or cocktails. This is great and very exciting but sometimes you just want a cuppa and a natter with your bestie watching the soaps, but you can't as you're an hour away from each other.

The main thing I've found in the past year is that London is big, exciting and at times scary and daunting. The best thing to do is embrace it all with a positive, ready outlook and you'll go on the ride of your life. If you don't you can be in danger of isolating yourself and becoming lost and lonely whilst it swallows you up.

London Fashion Weekend, Sommerset House

The Shard

Itunes Festival, The Roundhouse Camden

Wolf of Wall Street Premiere on Leicester Square

Gary Barlow at the Heart Event

Balham  - my first flat when I just moved

Tower Bridge by day

Lovers Locks in Shoreditch East London

Foster the People gig

My stroll around St James Park

Me with We Are Scientists, at The Fly Awards in The Forum 

Lamb Street - East London

Wembley Stadium

Capital's Summertime Ball at Wembley

Looking at Westminster

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